Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge

This week, for Karen Giron's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge, you could choose any previous sketch challenge and use that as your inspiration....I discovered that this is easier said than done!

I downloaded about 10 old sketches, and have been fiddling about with this challenge ever since last Monday. It was one of those projects that was worked on, left, pondered, shuffled, left, worked on, left, pondered, shuffled (you get the picture). I was determined not to be thwarted by it though, so finally I wrapped it up this afternoon:

List of Ingredients:

Cardstock: Kraft, Whisper White, Kiwi Kiss (Textured) and Tempting Turquoise.
Accessories: Simply Chartreuse, Raspberry Fizz, Vintage Cream and Hawaiian Shores Pure Wool Felt (PTI), Beautiful Blooms II #1 Die Collection (PTI), Simply Chartreuse, Raspberry Fizz and Hawaiian Shores Vintage Buttons (PTI), Linen and Canvas Impression Plate (PTI), White Embroidery Thread, Raspberry Fizz Satin Ribbon (PTI), Chit Chat Rub-Ons (SU), Dimensionals (SU) and SNAIL Adhesive (SU).

I ended up using Karen's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge # 58 (thanks for the inspiration Karen):

If anyone knows where I can find the instructions for the right Cuttlebug Sandwich to use with the PTI Impressions Plates, I'd be most appreciative. I don't think I have it quite squared away, and the impression that I am getting is not all that good yet.

You should also know that this is a MONSTER-sized card. I think the end product was something like 8 inches long.  It started with the felt flowers and just kept getting bigger, and bigger and bigger. I guess you could use it as one of those cards you pass around the office for every man and their dog to sign ;-). Should make for interesting times when I go to make an envie for it too!

I am simply pooped now. I spent just over three hours in the doctors' surgery this morning (it was one of those no-appointment ones because my usual doc was full). In the end the doc I saw confirmed that I have a head cold! Zowie Cavey!! Glad I spent my day productively ;-).

See you later alligator.

(Blogged to: Black & Gold - Sam Sparro and You - Wes Carr).

Two challenges, one card...

...I love multi-tasking ;-).

I made this card with two challenges in mind. The first challenge is the Just Add Ink Challenge 2, and the challenge is to make a project and 'Just Add Hearts'....which I have done here...LOTS!

While I was surfing around last night I also saw Karen Giron's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #54, and decided I would use her sketch too:

I sketched out my card last night while I was watching the premiere of the new season of House (it was a very good episode IMO), and then made it up this morning (after we'd dropped miss 5.5 to her very first day of school...it was a fun, tearless event on both sides...just ;-).

List of Ingredients:

Cardstock: Textured Chocolate Chip and Whisper White, and So Saffron Plain cardstock
Accessories: Love Sparkles Simply Scrappin' Kit, Chit Chat Rub-Ons, Heart to Heart Punch, 5/16" Chocolate Chip Brads, Spellbinders Circle Nestabilities, miscellaneous plastic heart, Dimensionals, crystal effects and SNAIL adhesive.

The little brown 'petals' around the focal circle are the tops of the small heart from the Heart to Heart punch. Also, I've stuck the clear pink plastic heart on using Crystal Effects, which you can't see through the plastic...yeah!

I am very happy with the way this card turned out. Thanks for taking a peek.

Hope you have a great day!

(Blogged to: Addicted to Love - Robert Palmer).

Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #46

I am so thankful to people like Karen Giron, who design lovely sketch challenges, like this, that are keeping me inspired to create, and are helping me finish my Christmas cards at the same time!

I have quite an impressive pile of Christmas cards stockpiled now, and am thinking that maybe I don't have that many more to do after all. This is good because I have NOT started my Christmas shopping yet, and now I will be able to start on that with one big job already finished!

This week's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge is #46, and this is the sketch:

...and here is my card:

List of ingredients:

Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Baja Blue and Whisper White
Ink: Riding Hood Red Classic Ink
Stamps: Christmas Classics
Accessories: Spellbinders Scallop Circles and Plain Circle Nestabilities, Cuttlebug, Button Bouquet, Ski Slope DSP, Paper Piercer, Valet Ribbon Originals, Dimensionals, SNAIL adhesive and Mini Glue Dots.

Today is the last day that the Ski Slope DSP is available and I am sitting here umming and ahhing about getting some more. I love it to bits...and I am going to be so sad when mine runs out! Should I stock up? I think I also NEED some more Parisian Breeze Specialty DSP...UGH!

My apologies if you are over this stamp from the Christmas Classics set. I'm not, and I'm thinking it is so cute that it has some more mileage left it in still ;-).

Ok...gonna try and take the kids to see 'Cloudy With the Chance of Meatballs' today. It really is cloudy here, but chances are it'll be spag bol or risotto, rather than meatballs ;-).

Have a wonderful afternoon.
Sam.

PS. I just put in an order for some Partylite Tealights. I LOVE Teakwood and Cardamon, but they are being retired in February next year...Arrrrgggghhhhhhh! I nearly cried.....SIGH, I guess I'll survive! I'm also going to get some Peppermint Bark for a bit of Christmas cheer. Anyone else a Partylite fan?

Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #45

I haven't participated in one of Karen's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenges for a while now, but I just felt like one last night. The sketch for this challenge is:

...and this is my card:

 

List of ingredients (all from Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted):

Cardstock: Riding Hood Red Textured, Very Vanilla Plain
Ink: Chocolate Chip Classic Ink
Stamps: Merry, Merry (retired)
Accessories: Scallop edge punch, 1 3/8 inch circle punch, 1 1/4 inch circle punch, Crop-a-dile, 1 1/4 inch striped grosgrain ribbon, 5/16 inch Neutrals Jumbo Brads, Chocolate Chip Patterns DSP, On Board Essentials, Versamark, Heat and Stick Powder, Heat Tool, Romantic Red Glitter, Dimensionals, Anywhere Glue Stick, Sticky Strip and SNAIL adhesive.

...it always surprises me how such a simple looking card can have such a long list of ingredients! Given the state of my desk though...it should really be no surprise at all.

Have a nice day!
Sam.

Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #34

It is has been raining and dreary here all day. We've watched some DVDs, we've been to the hairdresser, the dentist, and the shops. We had lunch at the Hyperdome...because even I felt the need to be out and about!

In order to help lift the spirits a little, I also managed to sneak in a little creative time for Karen Giron's latest Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge:


...and this is the card that I made:


List of Ingredients (all from Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted):

Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Riding Hood Red and Very Vanilla
Ink: Chocolate Chip Classic Ink
Accessories: On Board Trimmings (retired), Close to Cocoa Patterns DSP (retired), Riding Hood Red 1 1/4" striped grosgrain ribbon, Chit Chat rub-ons (retired), Eyelet Border punch, versamark, heat and stick powder, heat tool, Fine Supernova Stampin' Glitter, SNAIL adhesive and dimensionals.

The final card measures 5 3/4" square. I have covered the chipboard in Chocolate Chip classic ink, then versamark, then heat and stick powder, then in oodles of brown Stampin' Glitter. Needless to say, I am covered in the stuff ;-).


I hope that you are having a sparkly afternoon, even if it is raining in your neck of the woods too.

Thanks for visiting my little corner of cyberspace :-).
Sam.

ETA: I just walked past my craft table and looked at this card and suddenly thought...who makes brown snow flakes? So I've been sitting here, watching the 'Farmer Wants a Wife' and mulling over brown snow flakes. I've decided that the dilemma of brown snow flakes is not really so dilemma-ful, as I do live in Australia...and our Christmas falls in the middle of a usually sweltering summer...so of COURSE our snow flakes would be brown...scorched in 40 degree heat! DUH!! ;-).

Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #33

I saw a beautiful Christmas card on Nancy Riley's blog this morning, and was inspired to go and make a Christmas card myself.

Like Nancy, I have used Karen Giron's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #33:



This is the card I have made:


List of Ingredients (all from Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted, stamped images © Stampin' Up!):

Stamps: Tree Trimmings and Christmas Classics
Ink: White Stazon
Cardstock: Kraft and Riding Hood Red
Accessories: Ski Slope Designer Series paper, clear acetate, On Board Lots of Letters, crimper, dazzling diamonds, Dress Up Ribbon Originals, dimensionals, mini glue dots, two-way glue pen, sticky strip and SNAIL adhesive.

I did want a bold, large, white Christmas greeting down the left hand side of the card (maybe a rub on, or some thickers or the like), but I couldn't find anything suitable in my stash...so it is now a faint, small, almost transparent Christmas greeting.....SIGH...I'll get over it ;-).

The bauble is stamped on acetate, and is sitting up on offcuts of dimensionals with a heap of Dazzling Diamonds behind it. I originally put so much under there...that it was packed solid and didn't move at all (Derek would have been proud). I had to open up some of the dimensional packing and empty about 3/4 of the glitter out and then re pack the hole. UGH...talk about fiddly!

The card is 6 x 6 inches, and opens from the bottom.

Ciao ciao bloggers! Thanks for dropping by.
Sam.

Sweet Sunday and undercooked cupcakes...

It has shaped up to be a beautiful day here in Canberra. After a foggy start the sky is now a lovely shade of blue and there is some snow on the ranges. Pretty!

Yesterday I decided to participate in Karen Giron's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #26, and this is the sketch:


I decided to go with a 6 x 6 scrapbok page, and to use up a piece of background cardstock where I had trialled the wax paper technique (see the details on Splitcoaststampers here):


Ingredient List (all from Stampin' Up! unless otherise noted):

Cardstock: Pacific Point textured and plain cardstock, Whisper White plain cardstock and Glossy white cardstock
Ink: Baja Breeze classic ink and Whisper White craft ink
Accessories: Waxed paper from Black and Gold, iron, brayer, paper piercer, sticky lettering from Creative Memories, white embossing powder, heat tool, photo corners punch, On Board Timeless Type, Styled Silver Hodge Podge, Pacific Point striped grosgrain, SNAIL adhesive, mini glue dots and dimensionals.

As you can see, the wax paper technique worked well, and I love the shot of hubby and Mr2 (YES...despite the shoulder length hair that IS a MR under there ;-). This page falls down though with the colour of the sticker letters I have used. The orange is completely lost on the striped ribbon...you can hardly read what it says. I am contemplating lifting them off and using black instead...but am fretting over the waste of lettering that will be! What do you think...how would you fix it?

One of the reasons I like blogging, apart from the social networking and sharing of ideas, is that I really like pretty pictures, and one of my blog-goals is to be a place of pretty pictures...to this end, I give you...MORE NAUGHTY FOOD PICTURES!


Before you leave any comments about my cooking, I thought it fair that you know that these cupcakes are waaaaay undercooked and taste like egg and flour! Also, because I am no MasterChef I manged to curdle the butter/sugar/egg mix while I was making them.

I had to go online and see what causes the batter to curdle like that and I came up with this list:
1/ ingredients not at room temperature
2/ insufficient creaming of the butter and sugar
3/ adding the eggs too quickly
I am guilty of all three, so no wonder my batter looked icky by the time I was finished. I was looking around for Miss Muffet to come eat her curds and whey! But the photo looks pretty...so that's why its here. I like to show you the pretty stuff, and I try not to think about the mistakes :-).

Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #1

I've been a big admirer of Karen Giron's beautiful blog, the sweetest thing, for a while now...it comes under the special heading 'favourite US SU blogs' in my Google reader :-). Please go take a look at her lovely work, I think you will agree that her designs are the sweetest things!

But I digress...what I came here to show/tell you about is another card that I have made for Karen's first sketch challenge, sweet sunday sketch challenge #1:


I made my card last night while watching NCIS...but I didn't finish it because I wanted to get to bed a bit early so I could get up at 3:30 am and watch Barack Obama's inauguration. After making that big effort, I forgot to set my alarm (DOH!), and slept right through until 6 am...but I'm catching up on the events now instead :-). What an exciting day! To my US readers..congratulations on the inauguration of your new President.

There I go again..off on a tangent...sorry. I am sure you didn't come here to read about my TV watching schedule, so I'll get back to business. Here is my card:


Ingredients (all Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted):

Cardstock: Whisper White, Textured Basic Black
Paper: Bali Breeze Designer Series Paper
Stamps: Cheery Chat
Ink: Basic Black Classic Ink
Accessories: Scallop edge punch, crop-a-dile, Francheville black grosgrain ribbon, Provo Craft Asterisks dies, Spellbinders Nestabilities square and scalloped square dies, two-way glue pen, dazzling diamonds, SNAIL, glue dots, The Robin's Nest Hardy Ivy Dew Drops.

Hope you all have a lovely day, thanks for dropping by!

Sam.

Cinema Saturday and Sweet Sunday...

I made this card for two challenges. The first of which is the Cinema Saturday Creative Challenge (CSCC). This week, the CSCC is the movie Casablanca:


This week the CSCC girls decided to spice it up a bit and added a colour challenge as well:


So, I had theme and colour taken care of for me...and I was here thinking how could I further reduce my responsibilities (SUCH a slacker). Answer: use a sketch challenge as well! So I pulled up Karen Giron's brand new Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge too:


...and here is my card:


Ingredients (all Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted):

Cardstock: Whisper White and Textured Basic Black
Paper: White fibrous paper and White paper with silver printing, both of miscellaneous origin
Accessories: Epson inkjet printer, SU CSS Hand font, Photoshop, white miscellaneous ribbons, Kaiser floral rhinestones, SNAIL and glue dots.

Thanks for the challenges girls!

Have a great week.
Sam.